JMH CHANNELS RWR: Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is doubling down on his praise for the Paul Ryan budget in today’s Wall Street Journal, writing that the entitlement crisis represents this generation’s “time for choosing.” Huntsman: “I admire Congressman Paul Ryan's honest attempt to save Medicare. Those who disagree with his approach incur a moral responsibility to propose reforms that would ensure Medicare's ability to meet its responsibilities to retirees without imposing an unaffordable tax burden on future generations of Americans.” http://on.wsj.com/kBLysA

MEANWHILE, IN NH. — RUDY PAYS RESPECT — JMART SCOOPS — “Rudy Giuliani plans to meet with Joe McQuaid, the influential publisher of the Union Leader newspaper, during a trip to New Hampshire this week. McQuaid said Giuliani requested to meet on Friday, a day after Hizzoner is to address the New Hampshire GOP. ‘He wanted to drop in,’ McQuaid told POLITICO.”

MORE — “While the still-mulling Giuliani presumably wants to feel out the powerful conservative, McQuaid said he had something very specific on his mind: convincing the former and perhaps future candidate to appear at the debate the Union Leader, WMUR and CNN are sponsoring later this month. ‘If I have to, I'm going to break his legs,’ McQuaid joked, noting that he'd have a ‘big baseball bat’ at the ready for the sit-down. Turning more serious, he said that the debate isn't restricted to declared candidates and that a candidate like Giuliani who is still considering the possibility could participate.”

STRAIGHT TALK FROM DAN BALZ — The Washington Post scribe takes stock of Palin’s eccentric reemergence on the political scene, wondering “whether she could ever run for president this way.” The answer is probably not, but Balz wonders if that’s even the point: “One Republican with considerable campaign experience, who wouldn’t agree to be identified in order to be as candid as possible, called the ‘One Nation’ bus tour that Palin and her family are on ‘a joke’ … Palin wouldn’t have it any other way … Stop to think about what Palin is trying to perfect as the most unconventional of politicians. She has the ability to connect with people personally. She has, as one Republican said long ago, the ability to be interesting. That has long been her strong suit, and while she has done little to persuade her many doubters that she could or should be president, she retains a loyal and passionate following.” http://wapo.st/lmRtuE

HONEST QUESTION: Can any Score reader make the case that Palin’s bus tour is good politics? If so, please email us with your thoughts — anonymity guaranteed, if desired.

What we’re watching today – 3 essential events:
- Herman Cain on “Early” – The former Godfather’s Pizza CEO – riding momentum in the polls and coming off a Washington Post Style profile – will appear on the CBS “Early Show” at 7 a.m. Eastern, according to a tweet from Cain.

- Giuliani in his comfort zone – At 6 p.m., Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to keynote the Voices of Sept. 11 gala at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.

- Pawlenty’s Iowa schedule resumes – Flooding forced TPaw to cancel his Sioux City town hall Tuesday night, but he’s still on for a 9:30 a.m. event at Tish’s Restaurant in Council Bluff